Rejoice Is a Safeguard

Paul tells the Philippians to rejoice in the Lord and then adds a curious note. It is no trouble for him to write the same things again, and it is a safeguard for them. Rejoicing, in his mind, is not decoration. It guards something.

Consider what it guards against. The very next verses warn about false teachers who would have the Philippians trust in the flesh. Rejoicing in the Lord, specifically in the Lord and not in circumstances or achievements, keeps the heart's weight on the right foundation. A person who is glad in Christ is hard to sell an upgrade to. A person who has stopped rejoicing goes looking for something to feel secure about, and there is always someone offering it.

The lesson for the week is practical. Rejoicing is a discipline before it is a feeling. It can be done on a Tuesday with nothing particular to be glad about, by naming what is true of Christ and letting the gladness follow the naming. Do it in the car. Do it while the coffee brews. Paul was willing to repeat himself about this because he knew how quickly a joyless week turns into a vulnerable one.